atardecer Preterite Conjugation
atardecer — to get dark
The preterite of atardecer is regular: atardecí, atardeciste, atardeció, atardecimos, atardecisteis, atardecieron.
atardecer Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to mention a specific instance of the sun setting or to say where you were at the exact moment night fell.
Notes on atardecer in the Preterite
Atardecer is completely regular in the preterite indicative.
Example Sentences
Ayer atardeció a las seis.
Yesterday the sun set at six.
él/ella/usted
Atardecimos en mitad del bosque.
Night fell while we were in the middle of the forest.
nosotros
Los viajeros atardecieron en un pueblo pequeño.
The travelers were in a small town when it got dark.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'atardezcó' for the third person.
Correct: atardeció
Why: The -zc- change only happens in the present tense, not the preterite.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: atardezco
The present tense of atardecer is irregular in the 'yo' form (atardezco), but regular otherwise.
Imperfect
yo: atardecía
The imperfect of atardecer is regular: atardecía, atardecías, atardecía, atardecíamos, atardecíais, atardecían.
Future
yo: atardeceré
The future of atardecer is regular: atardeceré, atardecerás, atardecerá, atardeceremos, atardeceréis, atardecerán.
Conditional
yo: atardecería
The conditional of atardecer is regular: atardecería, atardecerías, atardecería, atardeceríamos, atardeceríais, atardecerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: atardezca
The present subjunctive of atardecer is irregular: atardezca, atardezcas, atardezca, atardezcamos, atardezcáis, atardezcan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: atardeciera
The imperfect subjunctive of atardecer is regular: atardeciera, atardecieras, atardeciera, atardeciéramos, atardecierais, atardecieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: atardece
The imperative of atardecer is rarely used but follows the -zc- change for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no atardezcas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no atardezcas, no atardezca, no atardezcamos, no atardezcáis, no atardezcan.